Auxiliary high voltage spark attachment for spark plug-magneto ignition internal combustion engines and combination of engine therewith

ABSTRACT

A temporary auxiliary high voltage, high power spark supply attachment for use especially in starting an internal combustion engine which engine has at least one cylinder with a spark plug therein for ignition and a normal spark supply for supplying timed output spark voltage surges, and the combination of such attachment with an engine; in which the attachment comprises a spark supply of a desired high voltage output capability higher than that of the normal spark supply under starting or other conditions and having an output connector adapted to connect to and deliver its high voltage output to the spark plug of such engine, a relay switch connected to said high voltage spark supply for triggering an output voltage surge therefrom when said relay is actuated, and an input connector on said high voltage spark supply for connecting the actuating terminals of said relay switch to the normal spark supply of such engine to be actuated thereby, whereby the high voltage surges from the high voltage supply to the spark plug will be triggered by timed output surges from the normal spark supply.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Orien W. Van Dyke 2825 Lockett Street, Houston, Tex. 7702] [2i 1 Appl. No. 807,641

[22] Filed Mar. 17,1969

[45] Patented Junel,l97l

{54] AUXILIARY IIIGII VOLTAGE SPARK ATTACHMENT FOR SPARK PLUG-MAGNETO IGNITION INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES AND COMBINATION OF ENGINE THEREWITII (D8), 148 (E), 179 (B), 179 (8-1) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,394,944 l0/l92l Shaw l23/l48DS 2,380,707 7/1945 Sawyer. l23/148DS 3,368,540 2/1968 Ault l23/l48E Primary Examiner Laurence M. Goodridge Attorney-Ralph R. Browning ABSTRACT: A temporary auxiliary high voltage, high power spark supply attachment for use especially in starting an internal combustion engine which engine has at least one cylinder with a spark plug therein for ignition and a normal spark supply for supplying timed output spark voltage surges, and

' the combination of such attachment with an engine; in which the attachment comprises a spark supply of a desired high voltage output capability higher than that of the normal spark supply under starting or other conditions and having an output connector adapted to connect to and deliver its high voltage output to the spark plug of such engine, a relay switch connected to said high voltage spark supply for triggering an output voltage surge therefrom when said relay is actuated, and an input connector on said high voltage spark supply for connecting the actuating terminals of said relay switch to the normal spark supply of such engine to be actuated thereby, whereby the high voltage surges from the high voltage supply to the spark plug will be triggered by timed output surges from the normal spark supply.

AUXILIARY'IIIGII VOLTAGE SPARK ATTACHMENT FOR SPARK PLUG-MAGNETO IGNITION INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES ANI) COMBINATION OF ENGINE TIIEREWITII BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an auxiliary or temporary high voltage source for use as a spark supply for an internal combustion engine during such times, particularly when starting the engine, that a magneto such as normally included for its spark plug supply with such engines produces less than a sufficient voltage. The invention is particularly applicable to single cylinder engines but is readily adaptable to use with twin and multicylinder engines if desired, and is furthermore especially intended for use with such engines in which at least one cylinder has a spark plug and a spark supply therefor consisting of a'magneto driven by the engine and producing a timed output voltage surge normally conducted to the spark plug.

A large percentage of engines such as just mentioned are started by hand cranking, cranking with a pull rope, or cranking with some low-powered device incapable of turning the engine over rapidly. Frequently the power available is insufficient, when an engine is cold and perhaps after it has been standing for a considerable length of time without being operated, to turn the engine rapidly enough so that the output from the magnetotype normal spark supply is of sufficient voltage to provide a hot starting spark. This may result from one or more causes'such as high viscosity of cold oil in the engine crankcase, high friction between piston and cylinder walls due to lack of initial lubrication, dust, dirt, and corrosion products on magneto points making for poor contacts, partial or complete fouling of spark plugs and the like. Frequently also the human factor is involved and a person wishing to start an engine is not physically able to impart to it the necessary rapidinitial turn to provide the spark voltage required for supplying the spark.

It is an object of this invention to avoid necessity for such rapid initial turn and to provide for such an engine a voltage supply of higher voltage than that normally supplied by the spark plug of the engine during starting and the like, but one which is capable of being connected into the system between the output of the normal magneto spark supply and the spark plug so that it utilizes the timed voltage surges from the normal spark supply to trigger a much higher voltage surge into the spark plug of the engine.

Usually after the use of such an attachment to start an engine and for its operation for a short initial period until it warms up somewhat, it is possible to remove the attachment and connect the normal spark supply to the spark plug, thereafter starting and operating the engine by the normal spark supply until it is next required to start it when cold.

However, in some instances it may be desired to use a spark supply attachment in accordance with this invention during normal operation of the engine, such as when the voltage of the magneto output is impaired because of some defect having developed therein, but still is sufficient to provide a timed triggering surge for timing the higher voltage output supplied by the attachment of this invention.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which is set forth by way of illustration and example but not by way of limitation one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit and components involved in the preferred form of this invention, together with the manner of employing the same in connection with a single cylinder and normal spark supply therefor, likewise shown diagrammatically.

FIG. 2 is a view of a special connector whereby the special high voltage spark supply of this invention may be readily and effectively connected and disconnected in the spark plug circuit ofa cylinder ofan engine.

In general the embodiment of this invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a means whereby a low voltage power source such as a battery is utilized to produce a high voltage spark supply output when a relay-type switch interposed in the low voltage circuit is closed by the application thereto of a suitable electrical pulse, preferably of the order of that which the normal spark supply is capable of providing, such higher voltage spark supply being connected to the spark plug of the engine cylinder instead of the normal voltage spark supply, and the normal voltage spark supply being connected to the relay circuit of the higher voltagespark supply to cause the closing of the low voltage power supply to the higher voltage spark supply whereby the higher voltage spark supply is triggered into action and caused to supply a higher voltage surge timed by the normally timed impulse, on the normal voltage spark supply.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, there is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1 crankcase l of an engine having a cylinder 2 extending from one side thereof, in which is mounted a piston 3 for reciprocatory movement, and into the outer end of which is positioned a spark plug 4 for supplying an electrical spark to the interior of the cylinder above the piston. Such spark may be supplied in any conventional manner at intervals timed by the operation of the engine so as to fire a charge of fuel within the cylinder above the piston when the piston occupies the appropriate position therein. In this instance it is to be assumed that the normal spark supply will be a well-known type of high voltage source suitable for normal operation of the engine, and that a surge of such high voltage will be triggered by moving a switch part 5 into contact with a switch point 6 by means such as a cam 7 on a camshaft operated by the engine. When the switch 5 is thus closed the normal voltage supply for supplying the spark surge to a spark plug 4 will be transmitted to the central electrode 9 of the spark plug 4 through a spark plug lead 10, the normal terminal of such lead, C, being at such times connected to the central terminal of the spark plug. The spark will occur when the surge of electricity discharges between the central electrode 9 and the grounded side electrode 8 of the plug.

In the utilization of the present invention a special spark plug lead 11 is provided to extend from the central terminal 9 of the spark plug 4 to a point of connection conveniently indicated as a point D for connecting it to the auxiliary higher voltage spark supply of this invention. The spark plug lead 10, normally connected to the central terminal of the spark plug 4 at its end C, is positioned to be connected to an actuating circuit of the higher voltage spark source to trigger the same each time that the timing switch 5 is closed against the contact 6.

The special higher voltage spark supply is powered by any suitable low voltage source such as a low voltage dry cell battery 12 of sufficient current supplying capability for the required power output and having its negative terminal grounded at 13 and also connected by a conductor 14 to one terminal 15 of a well-known type of vibrator coil used for ignition in the so-called Model-T Ford car and various other purposes in the past, which is shown at 16, and which has a vibrator 17. This coil has an external terminal 18 adapted for connection to the opposite terminal of the low voltage power source 12 from that which is connected to the terminal 15 of the coil, and when so connected will cause the vibrator 17 to operate and provide interruptions in the input circuit of the coil. The supply of low voltage power to the coil is through a normal ignition switch E or the like and through the controlled contacts 19 of a relay switch. The relay switch 19 may be of the type known as a dry reed relay which has a very fast response and is actuatable by a very small current. Thus it will be seen that with the ignition switch E closed and a current passed through the actuating coil 20 of the relay 19, the vibrator coil 16 will be activated. The winding 20 of the relay is adapted to be supplied by the connection to the terminal A of the terminal C of the normal ignition spark plug lead 10, it being contemplated that in the operation of the present invention the terminal C of such lead will be connected to terminal A. Such current will be caused to flow through a resistor 21 so as to prevent the application of excessive voltage to the actuating winding 20. Sparking of the points in the controlled circuit of this relay is subdued by means of a capacitor 22 connected across the points of the relay 19.

When the vibrator coil 16 is thus actuated by the application of current through the lead 10 from the normal spark supply. the actuating coil 20 of the relay 19, the vibrator coil 16 will be caused to produce a high voltage spark supply of whatever voltage the vibrator coil may be designed to produce, at the terminal 23 ofthe coil. This terminal is shown as being connected through a high tension lead with a terminal B adapted for connection to the terminal D of the spark plug lead 11.

ln starting an engine in which for some reason the voltage impulse supplied by the normal ignition system is not sufficiently high for starting purposes, spark plug lead 10 is to be removed from the spark plug and the terminal C thereof connected to the terminal A of the auxiliary high voltage source of this invention. The high tension terminal B of such source would then be connected through the terminal D of the auxiliary lead 11 to the spark plug, and the ground 13 connected to the engine body I to provide a common ground.

With the ignition switch E closed the engine would then be cranked causing the cam 7 to turn until a point is reached at which the switchblade will be closed against the terminal 6 and supply the normal spark plug voltage through the resistor 21 and actuating coil 20 of the relay 19 to the ground 13. Current flow resulting from such voltage will cause the closing of the contact points of the relay 19 whereupon current will flow from the battery 12 through the switch E and the relay 19 to the low voltage terminal 18 of the vibrating coil 16 actuating the coil. Vibrator 17 will then vibrate and the desired higher voltage than that produced by the normal spark supply will be supplied to the power voltage terminal 23 and through the terminals B and D (which in the use of this invention are connected together) and from D through the auxiliary spark plug lead 11 to the spark plug 4. The high voltage thus supplied to the spark plug will be timed by the operation of the cam 7, the same as the normal spark supply which is employed in accordance with this invention to trigger the auxiliary spark supply.

The engine having been started, it will be operated for a short time until it warms up sufficiently so that it may be more readily turned over and started with its normal spark supply. This will also clear out fouling of spark plugs and contact points in magnetos and the like, making the normal supply more effective.

Thereupon the switch E will be opened and lead 11 will be removed from the spark plug 4 and the lead connected thereto, thus disengaging the auxiliary or temporary high voltage source and connecting the normal spark supply to the spark plug 4, after which the engine may be again started and run in normal fashion on its normal spark supply.

In order to facilitate the change from normal operating connection to connection for operation with the auxiliary spark supply of this invention, there may be supplied a special connector as illustrated in FIG. 2. Normally the normal spark plug lead 10 has a terminal 25 thereon adapted to be readily connected to and removed from the terminal 24 on the spark plug. The connector in accordance with this invention is composed of a body 26 preferably of insulating material having a connector 27 at one end substantially interchangeable with the connector 25 so that it may be readily connected to the spark plug terminal 24 in place of the terminal 25. The terminal 27 has a conductor 28 extending therefrom through the connector body 26 first in a longitudinal direction through the body 26 and then laterally therefrom, becoming the same as the auxiliary spark plug lead 11 of FIG. I

On the opposite end of the connector body 26 is a connector 29 adapted to interfit with the connector 25 on the normal spark plug lead in the same fashion as the terminal 24 on the spark plug connects with the connector 25. This connector 29 has extending therefrom and electrically integral therewith a conductor 30 leading to the resistor 21' of the high voltage spark supply of this invention.

It will readily be seen that when it is desired to make use of the auxiliary spark supply of this invention for purposes of starting the engine or the like, the connector 25 may be quickly removed from the connector 24 on the spark plug and engaged with the connector 29 on the connector body 26 Also the connector 24 on the spark plug may be quickly engaged with the connector 27 on the connector body 26. The auxiliary supply must of course have its ground connection 13 suitably grounded to the engine 1. The auxiliary spark supply of this invention will then be operated to supply spark to the spark plug 4 for starting purposes or the like.

After the engine has been started and run for a sufficient period of time so that it can be operated with its normal spark supply, it will be stopped by opening ignition switch E and the connector 25 removed from the terminal 29 and 27 from 24, connector 25 being replaced on the terminal 24. Thereafter the engine may be restarted and operated on its own spark supply.

The invention having been described, what l claim is:

l. A temporary high voltage spark supply attachment for an internal combustion engine which engine has a cylinder with a spark plug therein and a normal spark supply for supplying timed output spark voltage surges but of less than desired voltage output for operations such as starting; said attachment comprising a spark supply of a desired high voltage output capability higher than that of the normal spark supply under starting or other conditions and having an output connector adapted to connect to and deliver its high voltage output to the spark plug of such engine, a relay switch connected to said high voltage spark supply for triggering an output voltage surge therefrom when said relay is actuated, and an input connector on said high voltage spark supply for connecting the actuating terminals of said relay switch to the normal spark supply of such engine to be actuated thereby, whereby the high voltage surges from the high voltage supply to the spark plug will be triggered by the timed output surges from the normal spark supply.

2. An attachment as recited in claim 1 in which the spark supply of the desired voltage includes a vibrator-type ignition coil and a low voltage power.source for supplying power thereto, and the contacts of said relay switch are connected between said power source and the primary of said ignition coil whereby said ignition coil will be triggered to supply an output voltage surge when the relay switch receives a voltage surge from such engine normal spark supply.

3. An attachment as recited in claim 1 in which the output connector of the spark supply of the desired voltage and the connector for connecting the relay switch to the normal spark supply are comprised of a single insulated adapter having a connector for a spark plug at one position and a connector for the spark supply lead at another position and insulated from the first connector, and separate leads from said two last-mentioned connectors respectively to the high voltage output of the spark supply of the desired voltage and to the input of said relay.

4. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a cylinder with a normal spark supply for supplying a timed output spark voltage of less than a desired voltage output for a special purpose such as starting, and a spark plug for such cylinder, an attachment with a spark supply for supplying the desired high voltage, the output connector of the spark supply for supplying the desired high voltage being connected to said spark plug, and the input connector for said spark supply for supplying the desired high voltage having its actuating terminals connected to the output of the normal spark supply of said engine, and the output of said normal spark supply of said engine being disconnected from said spark plug during the connection of said attachment to said engine, whereby the timed output spark voltage from said normal spark supply of said engine will trigger the discharge of the spark supply for supplying the desired high voltage and cause it to discharge through said spark plug to produce a timed spark discharge of the desired high voltage through said spark plug. 

1. A temporary high voltage spark supply attachment for an internal combustion engine which engine has a cylinder with a spark plug therein and a normal spark supply for supplying timed output spark voltage surges but of less than desired voltage output for operations such as starting; said attachment comprising a spark supply of a desired high voltage output capability higher than that of the normal spark supply under starting or other conditions and having an output connector adapted to connect to and deliver its high voltage ouTput to the spark plug of such engine, a relay switch connected to said high voltage spark supply for triggering an output voltage surge therefrom when said relay is actuated, and an input connector on said high voltage spark supply for connecting the actuating terminals of said relay switch to the normal spark supply of such engine to be actuated thereby, whereby the high voltage surges from the high voltage supply to the spark plug will be triggered by the timed output surges from the normal spark supply.
 2. An attachment as recited in claim 1 in which the spark supply of the desired voltage includes a vibrator-type ignition coil and a low voltage power source for supplying power thereto, and the contacts of said relay switch are connected between said power source and the primary of said ignition coil whereby said ignition coil will be triggered to supply an output voltage surge when the relay switch receives a voltage surge from such engine normal spark supply.
 3. An attachment as recited in claim 1 in which the output connector of the spark supply of the desired voltage and the connector for connecting the relay switch to the normal spark supply are comprised of a single insulated adapter having a connector for a spark plug at one position and a connector for the spark supply lead at another position and insulated from the first connector, and separate leads from said two last-mentioned connectors respectively to the high voltage output of the spark supply of the desired voltage and to the input of said relay.
 4. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a cylinder with a normal spark supply for supplying a timed output spark voltage of less than a desired voltage output for a special purpose such as starting, and a spark plug for such cylinder, an attachment with a spark supply for supplying the desired high voltage, the output connector of the spark supply for supplying the desired high voltage being connected to said spark plug, and the input connector for said spark supply for supplying the desired high voltage having its actuating terminals connected to the output of the normal spark supply of said engine, and the output of said normal spark supply of said engine being disconnected from said spark plug during the connection of said attachment to said engine, whereby the timed output spark voltage from said normal spark supply of said engine will trigger the discharge of the spark supply for supplying the desired high voltage and cause it to discharge through said spark plug to produce a timed spark discharge of the desired high voltage through said spark plug. 